Tensioning means for loom warp beams



Feb. 19, 1952 R. M. TAYLOR 2,586,115

TENSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM wARP BEAMS Filed sept. 1s, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 Fig.

Hay M, Tay/or Feb. 19, 1952 R. M. TAYLOR 2,586,116

TENSIONING MEANS FOR Loon/1 wARP BEAMS Filed sept. 18, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM WARP BEAMS Ray M. Taylor, Quakertown, Pa.

Application September 18, 1950, Serial No. 185,386

6 Claims. (Cl. 139-100) This invention is an improvement on the device as described in my co-pending application Serial No. 148,200 and relates to an attachment for looms primarily designed to maintain a more uniform tension and let-o in order to weave a perrect cloth. v

The present device is in the form of brake or friction bands which embrace the sheaves or beam heads which are secured to the rotatable loom warp beams. These brakes p-roduce an even friction over the entire circumference of the beam head faces so that the tension onV the threads is uniform. At present, it is conventional practice to provide a multiple lap of ropes around the warp beam head or pulley to maint-ain tension on the warp ends. The disadvantage with use of ropes is that the Contact area with the ropes is not large enough to provide the required smooth tension. It is also conventional practice atpresent to provide looms with let-oil mechanisms of the mechanical type. The mechanical let-off types have proven faulty at times, particularly when wear and deterioration appears in the gears and bearings. When running the loom, the letor is slow when the Warp is full and the circumference is approximately 26 inches, andthe letofi becomesl more rapid as the warp decreases in size to a circumference of approximately 6 inches. Because of this, the mechanical devices presently employed do not provide the same even tension throughout the running of the Warp from iull to empty. The rope or friction type is also unsatisfactory during damp and high humidity weather, since the moisture on the-rope accumulates scum and consequently sticks to the Warp beam pulley or head preventing uniform let-oli and producing barre or streaky marks in the cloth.

it is the primary object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the present tensioning means by providing split circular bands embracing the Warp beam heads over which are wound multiple laps of a cable with means for slidably and guidingly retaining the cable on the split bands. A stop is adjustably secured to one of the cable lap-s and extends into the split portion of the band, and adjustable weights are secured upon the free ends of the cable, the weight on the cable at the take-off end or the warp beam being less than the Weight on the cable on the rear of the warp beam. Normally, a minor portion of the lighter Weight is supported upon the floor adjacent the warp beam so that when the bandtends to tighten on the beam head and moveswith the Warp' beam, the Y lighter weight will rest aY major portion of its Weight on the oor producingr slack in that portion of the cable which secures the lighter Weight, the heavy weight exerting a pulling force on the stop and urging it into engagement with one free end of the split band to spread the vband and release it automatically from the tight engagement with the beam head. Thus, the present device Will exert an even clamping tension on the warp beam head but Will automatically release the clamping pressure on the warp beam head in the event that the tensioning force becomes greater than that normally required.

A -iurther important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the brake or friction band is a laminated article wherein the outer layer is fabricated of spring-type metal and the imier layer is fabri cated of woven asbestos and Wire chemically treated to prevent absorption of moisture and accumulation of scum. The multiple laps of steel -cable clamped about the spring-type metal will distribute the friction or tension evenly over the entire beam head face area axially as well as radially.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the tensioning force may be varied. by simply adjusting the stop `at various positions on one of the cable laps, by increasing the series of laps or the cable around the band, and also by increasing the amounts of Weights at each end of the cable.

These, together with Various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by Way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of a loom Warp beam with the present device assembled thereon;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure l, parts being broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of con struction;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one manner of winding the cable ou the band, the latter being shown in dotted lines;

Fiure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 and illustrating another manner of winding the cable en the band;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tensioning means per se as shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a sectional view of the tensioning means of the embodiment of Figure 1 and illustrating the normal drag or tension on the warp beam;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 and illustrating the releasing action of the device applied to the embodiment of Figure 1; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 9--9 of Figure 6.

Specific reference will now be made to the drawings. In the several views in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at l is a warp beam having ends l2 which are suitably journaled for rotation on a loom frame I4 in a conventional manner. Adjacent the journaled ends of the warp beam sheaves or heads I6 are secured upon the warp beam for rotation therewith and the present tensioning means I8 is adapted to embrace the heads and uniformly restrain the rotary motion of the warp beam as the threads 20 are let off.

As illustrated in Figures l, 2, 3, 7 and 8, the present tensioning means comprises a split circular friction band 22 which is preferably of laminated construction having an outer layer 24 of spring-type metal, such as steel or aluminum alloy, or any other suitable metal andxan inner layer 26 which is fabricated of woven asbestos and wire chemically treated to prevent absorption of moisture and accumulation of scum. The inner layer is fabricated of these materials s0 that some braking action may be produced upon the faces of the beam heads I6, but the inner layer will not absorb moisture during hot and humid weather and cause the band to stick upon the heads. The split portion of the band is shown at 28, the band including free end portions 30 and 32.

Wound about the outer surface of each band is a cable 34 preferably steel having a plurality of laps 38 and free end portions 38 and 48. In the form of the invention shown in Figures l, 2, 3, 7 and 8, the cable is wound continuously about the band and is guidingly and slidably retained on the outer layer 24 of the band by means of plates 42 which are circumferentially spaced about the band and extend axially thereof, each plate being convoluted to provide spaced sleeves 44 slidably receiving th-e laps 36 of the cable. rfhe guide plates 42 are secured to the band at the depressed portions thereof by means of suitable rivets 46 which also serve to secure together the outer and inner layers 24 and 26 of the laminated band. Adjustably secured to one of the laps 36 or" the cable preferably the central lap, is a stop 48 which extends into the split portion 28 of the band. The stop is, in effect, an externally threaded screw having a longitudinal slit and a head portion 52 which embraces the lap of the cable, the screw receiving an externally threaded nut 54 for tightening the same upon the cable in any adjusted position thereon. If desired, a wedging or bearing member may bc positioned in the split portion of the screw and engaged by the nut 54 to exert gripping pressure upon the cable.

After the bands are assembled upon the warp beam heads, one end 38 of the cable is formed into a loop B which engages a hook rod 58 which removably carries a plurality of weights 68. The

other end of the cable 40 is also formed into a loop 62 which engages a pin 64 carried intermediate the ends of a lever bar 66 which is pivoted at one of its ends as at 6B to a support 18. The end of the lever bar 66 opposite the pivot point 68 is provided with a plurality of notches 'I8 for adjustably receiving a hook rod 12 which removably carries a plurality of weights 14.

As will be seen clearly from the drawings and particularly with reference to Figure 1, the Weight is disposed in front of or at the takeoi end of the loom warp beam while the weight 14 is disposed to the rear of the loom warp beam. The weight 68 is smaller than the weight 'I4 and normally a small or minor portion of this weight is supported on the oor 18 beneath the loom warp beam while the heavy weight 'I4 is suspended upon the lever bar 66 a slight distance above the floor 16.

In practical operation, the weights 68 and 74 will exert a pulling force on the laps 36 of the cable wound about each of the bands to close the same about the warp beam head i6 rmly and evenly on the whole face area of the entire circumference of the beam head, the tension on the warp beam depending upon the number of laps 36 of the cable about the band, the magnitude of the weights 60 and I4 and the position of the stop 48. The tension position is shown clearly in Figure 7, the arrow indicating the direction of rotation of the loom warp beam. If, for some reason, the band tightens upon or sticks to the warp beam head I6, it will rotate along with the loom warp beam so that the weight 68 will rest a greater portion of its Weight upon the door 16 producing slack as at 'i8 in the portion of the cable 38 supporting the lighter weight as shown clearly in Figure 8 in exaggerated form. When this occurs, the heavier weight 'I4 will exert a force upon the cable moving the stop 46 into engagement with one of the open ends 32 of the split band to open the latter` and release the band from tight engagement with the pulley I6 so that the band will not drag along with the warp beam but exert the required tension thereon so that the threads 28 will be let off uniformly and smoothly. Thus, the present tensioning means is not onlyV adjustable but will assure a uniform let-off because of the automatic release mechanism hereinabove described.

This device, because of the multiple laps being clamped about the spring-type metal layer 24 will exert an even clamping pressure on the entire beam head face axially as well as radially. Because of this uniform and evenly distributed pressure, the pressure per square inch is greatly reduced as compared to the pressure obtained by the mere use of ropes Wound about the beam head itself. Also, because of this evenly distributed clamping pressure and the automatic release mechanism, the device provides uniform and smooth tension on the warp ends as the weaving takes place from a full Warp of 26 inch diameter to an empty warp of 6 inch diameter, a tension impossible of attainment with mere ropes or the mechanical devices presently employed. By placing the split portion of the band at the top, rear or bottom of the beam head, dilferent clamping pressures can be obtained because different lengths of laps are used from the weights 68 and 1t. It should be remembered that the stop 48 not only functions in the automatic release mechanism but also holds the split portion of the band at any set position relative to the beam head and 5 thereby prevents slippage of cable on the outer surface of the band.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is essentially the same in operation as the previously described form of the invention but differs therefrom with respect to the manner in which the cable is wound upon the brake band. A double strand of cable is produced as at 89 which is wound about the central portion of the outer layer of the band and passes through the central sleeves 4A of the guide plates 42. The double strands do not pass around the entire circumference of the band but at a predetermined position are separated to produce two separate laps or strands 82 which pass around the circumference of the band and are received in the outer sleeves 44 of the guide plates 42. The double strand 8@ is formed into a loop 84 which passes around an idler pulley 8E retained on an L-shaped bracket ii which is secured upon a rod 90 that removably carries a plurality of weights 92 which are the light weights corresponding to the weights 69 in the previously described form of the invention. The separated strands 82 normally terminate in a loop 94 which is entrained about an idler pulley 96 carried upon an L-shaped bracket 93 which is secured upon a rod i0 that removably carries a plurality of heavier weights H92 corresponding to the heavy weights 'M of the previously described form of the invention. This form of the invention is adaptable for use on looms weaving light weight or sheer material requiring less tension.

In View of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even 1 though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A tensioning means for a loom warp beam comprising a split circular band adapted to embrace a warp beam head, a cable having multiple laps wound about said band, means for slidably and guidingly retaining said cable on said band, a stop adjustably secured to one of the cable laps and extending into the split portion of the band, and adjustable weights secured upon the free ends of the cable.

CJI

2. The combination of claim l, wherein said guide means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending plates secured to the band, each plate including spaced sleeves slidably receiving the cable laps.

3, The combination of claim 1, wherein said adjustable stop includes a headed, longitudinally split, externally threaded screw embracing said one of said cable laps, and an internally threaded nut engaging said screw.

4. In combination with a loom warp beam having beam heads thereon,'a tensioning means comprising split circular bands embracing said heads, a cable having multiple laps wound about each band, means for slidably and guidingly retaining said cable on each of said bands, a stop adjustably secured to one of the cable laps and extending into the split portion oi' each of said bands, and adjustable weights secured upon the free ends of said cable, the weight on the cable at the take-ofi" end of the warp beam being less than the weight on the cable at the rear of the warp beam, a minor portion of the lighter weight being supported upon the iioor adjacent the warp beam whereby when each of the bands tighten on its respective head and moves with the warp beam, the lighter weight will rest a major portion of its Weight on the floor producing slack in the portion of the cable securing the lighter weight, the heavier weight pulling the stop into engagement with one free end of the band at the split portion thereof to spread the band and release it from the tight engagement with its respective pulley.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein each of said bands is laminated to include an inner layer of woven asbestos and wire to prevent absorption of moisture and accumulation of scum and an outer layer of spring-type metal to evenly distribute clamping friction axially and radially over the entire beam head face area.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein said guide means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending plates secured to each of said bands. each plate including spaced sleeves slidably receiving the cable laps.

RAY M. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,019,993 Sattler Mar. l2, 1912 1,537,604 Hannigan May 12, 1925 

